Underutilized Species Policies and Strategies Vietnam Lr

7/30/2019 Underutilized Species Policies and Strategies Vietnam Lr

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GlobalFacilitationUnitfor UnderutilizedSpecies

UNDERUTILIZED SPECIES

POLICIES AND STRATEGIES

Analysis of existing national policies that enable

or inhibit the wider use of underutilized plant

species in Vietnam

Report

Presented by

Prof. Dr. Nguyen Van Dinh

Hanoi Agricultural University

Vietnam


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iii

Analysis of existing national policies that enable or inhibit the wider use of

underutilized plant species in Vietnam

_____________________________________________________________________

Table of Contents

Page

Abbreviations and Acronyms iv

Abstract v

I. Introduction 1

Activities 2

Significance of Underutilized Species for the purpose of this study 2

II. Review of policy documents related to underutilized plant species (UPS) 2

Source of documents 2

Methodology adopted 3

List of policy documents related to UPS 5

Documents supportive of UPS 10

Documents considered to be neutral towards UPS 11

III. Questionnaire to establish scientists and managers involvementwith/utilization of UPS 12

Respondents areas of activity 12

Areas of involvement of organizations/institutions 13

Scope of organizations 13

Scientists and managers views on the importance/role of underutilized plant

species 14

Entities dealing with UPS 14

Policies involving the development of UPS 15

Points emerging from responses to the questionnare 17


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iv

Abbreviations and Acronyms

PGR Plant Genetic Resources

GRPI Genetic Resource Policy Initiative

TF Task Force

GFU Global Facilitation Unit for Underutilized Species

MARD Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development

VAAS Vietnam Academy for Agricultural Science

VACVINA Vietnam Gardening Association

UPS Underutilized Plant Species


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v

ABSTRACT

During the past 30 years (1975-2005), Vietnam suffered from food shortage. The

Government made considerable efforts to increase food production for the population - themain food staple being rice and thanks to their policy, Vietnam is now the second largest

rice-exporting country in the world.

In October, 2005, a one-year project study was undertaken in Vietnam to identify and

analyze existing national policies that enable or inhibit the wider use of underutilized plant

species (UPS) there. This study was implemented by the Task Force of the Genetic

resource policy initiative/Vietnam component, and led by Dr. Nguyen Van Dinh, Dean of

the Faculty of Agronomy, Hanoi Agricultural University.

During the project period, 120 policy-related documents were collected and reviewed.

Seventy-six of these were found to be concerned with promoting or inhibiting the

advancement of UPS, at different levels.

Twenty-two researchers and policy-makers concerned with these species were then asked to

provide their views on the selected documents and their comments were collected and

analyzed. A project workshop was then held to share the results of the analysis.

Recommendations were made, followed by a discussion to determine the best means of

exploiting UPS.

The participants in the workshop showed strong interest in the work concerning UPS, as

these species represent a new venture for Vietnamese Agriculture. Moreover, there is a

recognized potential for increasing their contribution to Vietnams economy, food security

and poverty alleviation.


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vi


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Analysis of existing national policies that enable or inhibit the wider use of underutilized plant species for food andagriculture in Vietnam

__________________________________________________________________________________________

I. INTRODUCTION

Asia is considered to be one of the worlds richest and most prosperous regions in plant genetic

resources (PGR). Vietnam possesses not only the great wealth of such resources common to most of

the countries in Southeast Asia, but it also enjoys some additional advantages in that it has both

temperate and tropical PGR. These are divided into three main species: indigenous species, introduced

species from South China and introduced species from South Asia.

Over the past 30 years (1975-2005) Vietnam has suffered a food shortage. The government made

considerable efforts to increase the production of food in the country, rice being the main food staple.

Attempts to achieve food security were very successful, so much so that in the past 10 years Vietnam

has become the second largest rice exporter in the world.

The history of Vietnams food security problems is that in the past, food security was addressed

mainly through the package approach, meaning hybrid varieties and management practice aimed at

obtaining the highest yields: this also involved a massive utilization of water (irrigated land),

fertilizers and pesticides. Such approach introduced oil-based products into agriculture, transforming

it from a labour-intensive economic activity into a capital-intensive one (to buy seeds and external

inputs), while accepting the farmers choice as to what should be planted in their fields. As a result,

both water and soil became polluted. Moreover, many farmers - particularly in the marginal areas -

were unable to benefit from this green revolution due to lack of capital to buy the package. In the

case of Vietnam, while in the short-term this approach has brought about an increase in yield and

helped provide food security, in the longer term it may create environmental and social side effects

that must be addressed in order to guarantee future food security, a safe environment, and an equitable

share of benefits deriving from agriculture.

It must also be stressed that in the past particular attention was given to only a few staple crops that

were producing the majority of the food supply. Consequently, the contribution of many minor

species to food security and health was greatly underestimated.

In the autumn of 2005, the study on which this paper is reporting was commissioned by the Global

Facilitation Unit for Underutilized Species (GFU) in Rome, to analyse existing national policies inVietnam that enable or inbibit the wider ust of underutilized plant species for food and

agriculture.Thanks to the first phase of the Genetic Resource Policy Initiative (GRPI)/Vietnam

component, which was completed in December, 2005, a number of documents on GR policy had been

collected in order to develop a background paper, the survey opinions of stakeholders in 6 provinces,

and researchers and administrators at the central level. Policy issues were discussed and clarified, as

th l it ti di d tili d l t i (UPS) It f lt th t t l h d


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Activities: Identification of existing national policies in the areas of agricultural research, ruraland national development, health and nutrition, rural investment and microfinance, education,

marketing, exports, biodiversity conservation, and the environment that deal with biodiversity

in the wider sense.

Several meetings were held in October and November 2005, between the Coordinator of the GRPI-

Vietnam Task Force (TF), and Mr. Dung, Department of Cultivation, Ministry of Agriculture and

Rural Development (MARD); Dr. Nguyen Thi Ngoc Hue, Plant Resource Center; Mr. Ngo Quoc

Luat, Institute of Medical Materials; and five members of the TF, to identify the extent of existingnational policies in the above-mentioned fields that deal with biodiversity.

Finally, there were two meetings of the GRPI TF (Dr. Nguyen Ngoc Kinh; Dr. Nguyen Thi Ngoc

Hue; Dr. Nguyen Thi Kinh Oanh; Eng. Vu Ngoc Thang;, Ms. Nguyen Viet Ha and Dr. Nguyen Van

Dinh), to clarify the intended significance of the term underutilized plant species(UPS) for the

purposes of this study, and to identify the sources and accessibility of the relevant documentation.

Significance of Underutilized Species for the purpose of this study

The term Underutilized plant species is very new to Vietnam. The definition of this term, which was

provided to the Task Force by the GFU programme coordinator, Dr. Irmgard Hoeschle-Zeledon, is

very comprehensive and was acknowledged by the researchers and policy-makers interviewed, as well

as those involved in the Project workshop. It should be mentioned that the Vietnamese equivalent to

describe underutilized plant species is Loai cay chua khai thac het tiem nang (meaning potentially

under-exploited), which was agreed on by the participants.

It was felt to be somewhat inappropriate to indicate UPS as being those species not included in

Vietnams Book of Statistics (General Statistics Office (1975-2000)) because even some of the good

features of local rice have not yet been fully exploited as functional food or fashion material

(cosmetics), and so they too could be considered underutilized if the criterion were to relate to the

simple fact that they are not yet listed in the Book of Statistics. According to the Book, the important

(and utilized) plant species comprise 4 staple crops(rice, corn, sweet potato, cassava); 14 industrial

crops (cotton, rush, jute, cashew, coffee, cinnamon, sugar cane, ground nut, soybean, tobacco, tea,

rubber, black pepper and coconut); 6 fruits (oranges, mango, pineapples, dragon fruit, litchi, bananas);

3 vegetables (cabbage, tomatoes, potatoes) and 3 flowers (the rose, chrysanthemum and gradiolus).

II. REVIEW OF POLICY DOCUMENTS

Source of documents


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Methodology

In all, a hundred and twenty texts and documents issued by Government agencies1 were collected and

analyzed as part of the Study. Of the total number analyzed, seventy-six were considered to be of

direct relevance to Vietnams underutilized plant species.

Forty-seven documents were considered as being supportive to the promotion of underutilized

species while the remaining 29 were not and were indicated as being either neutral or non-

encouraging.

The documents were evaluated according to their degree of relevance to the study, and graded asbeing highly, fairly, or likely to be relevant. The identification of UPS and the evaluation of the

relevance of the individual documents were based on GFU concepts. The graded relevance of these

texts, dates of issue and areas of relevance are indicated in Tables 1, 2 and 3. It should be noted that,

at present, Vietnam has no legal documents dealing exclusively with UPS

Table l: Relevance of documents to underutilized plant species

Relevance Supportive* Non-supportive*

Highly relevant 25 18Fairly relevant 7 2

Likely to be relevant 15 9

Total 47 29*The grouping of documents into 2 categories, according to their relevance, was approximate.

Note: Non-supportive indicates texts that are neutral or slightly inhibiting the promotion of underutilized species.

Table 2: Dates of issue of legal documents

National Assembly Government Ministry Peoples provincial

committee

Year

Supportive Neutr

.

Supportive Neutr Supportive Neut

r.

Supportive Neutral

1965-1975 4

1975-1985 2

1985-1995 1 1 4 1

1995-2006 7 15 10 12 14 5

Total 7 1 16 14 19 14 5Note: This grouping was simply relative. For example, in some cases, tax on land utilization has a promotional effect

towards fully exploiting plant/crop potential.

In addition to policy-related documents, there were also many books on underutilized plant species.

These were presented in the form of an extension guide to planting in home gardens or to the

utilization of UPS as agricultural plants as well as medicinal herbs. Most of these books were issued


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Table 3. Areas of relevance of documents

Field

No Policy documents Agriculture Forestry Aqua-culture

Health Economic Other

1 Highly supportive to underutilized plant species 14 0 1 6 3 4

2 Supportive to underutilized plant species 5 3 0 0 2 0

3 Slightly supportive to underutilized plant species 2 3 6 2 4 1

Total supportive 21 6 7 8 9 5

4 Non promotional towards underutilized plantspecies

11 3 0 0 5 0

5 Neutral-to-non-promotional towardsUnderutilized plant species

1 0 0 0 1 0

6 Neutral towards underutilized plant species 3 2 2 0 5 2

Total neutral or non-promotional 14 5 9 0 11 2

There was no policy document that specifically addressed UPS. Most of the texts are aimed at the

integrated utilization of all species. However, a few emphasized the promotion of high yielding

(hybrid) rice, which could lead to ignoring the local species. Such policy documents are therefore

considered to inhibit the promotion of underutilized species.

The largest number of policy documents on UPS are to be found in the fields of agriculture,economics and aquaculture, in that order.


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List of policy documents related to underutilized plant species

Field

No. Policy documents Agricu-lture

Fores-try

Aqua-culture

Health Econo-mics

Other

4.1 List of documents that are highly supportive tounderutilized plant species

A National Assembly

1 Ordinance No. 15/2004/PL-UBTVQH11 on plant varieties X

2 Ordinance No. 18/1999/PL-UBTVQH10 on commodity quality X

3 Intellectual Property Law No. 50/2006/QH11 was approved by

the 8th Session of 11th National Assembly on 29/11/2005 andcame into force after 01/7/2006

X

B Government

1 Decree No. 57/2005/N-CP dated 27/4/2005 by Governmenton penalties for administrative violation in the field of cropvarieties

X X

2 Decision No. 199/2001/QD-TTg dated 28/12/2001 by the Prime

Minister on tax exemption in agricultural land utilization

X X

3 Instruction No. 210/TTg dated 6/12/1966 by the Prime Minister

on exploitation and development of medicinal plants andanimals

X

C Ministries

1 Decision No. 68/2004/QD-BNN dated 24/11/2004 by theMinister, MARD, on the addition of 10 crop species to the list

of protected crop species.

X

2 Decision No. 653/2000/QD-TDC dated 12/12/2000 by the

Directorate for Standards and Quality on Guideline for contentand procedure of basic standard development.

X

3 Decision No. 2424/2000/QD-BKHCNMT dated 12/12/2000 by

the Minister, Ministry of Science Technology and Environment,on Temporary regulations for the announcement of appropriate

standardizing of commodity

X

4 Decision No. 2425/2000/QD-BKHCNMT dated 12/12/2000 bythe Minister, Ministry of Science, technology and environmenton Temporary regulation on commodity quality standard.

X

5 Decision No. 143/2002/QD-BNN dated 06/12/2002 by the

Minister, MARD, on branch standards.

X

6 Inter-ministerial Circular No. 06-TT/LB dated 12/2/1968 by theMinistry of Health and MARD on the implementation of

X


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10 Directive No. 01-BYT/CT dated 15/1/1969 on encouraging thegrowing Vietnamese traditional medicinal plants in the winter-

spring seasons (1968-1969)

X

11 Five-year plan on agricultural and rural development (2001-2205) by MARD

X

12 Decision No. 19/2006/Q-BNN dated 21/03/2006 by MARDon testing, field trials, approval, release and naming of new cropvarieties

X

13 Decision No. 67/2006/Q-BNN dated 24/11/2004 by MARDon selection, recognition, management and utilization of mother

stocks of industrial crops and perennial fruit trees.

X

14 Decision No. 05/2006/Q-BNN dated 20/01/2005 by MARD

on regulations regarding standards of product quality andagricultural commodities.

X

D Provincial peoples committees

1 Decision No. 1190/QD-CT dated 22/7/2005 by Ha NamPeoples committee on provincial agricultural development to2010

X

2 Decision No. 526/QD-UB dated 20/5/2003 by Ha Nam Peoplescommittee on project approval for developing shifting models

of cropping and animal husbandry patterns in low-lying fields

X X

3 Report on agricultural and rural economic transformation from2001 to 2004, development orientation to 2010 (No. 2014/BC-

UB dated 26/4/2005 by Quang Ninh Peoples committee).

X X

4 Decision No. 257/QD-UB dated 31/01/2005 by Son La Peoplescommittee on encouraging agricultural commodity production

in the province (from 2005 to 2010).

X

Subtotal 14 0 1 6 3 4

4.2 List of documents fairly supportive to underutilized plant

species

A Government

1 Decision No. 149/1998/QD-TTg dated 21/8/1998 by the PrimeMinister on forestry developing projection for the Northeastern

wood zone to the year 2010.

X


Minister on changing Tram Chim submerged zone of naturalconservation in Dong Thap into Tram Chim national park and

approval of Tram Chim construction investment project (from1999 to 2003)

X


Minister on supportive polices on agricultural productionconsumption through contracts.

X X

4 Decree No. 13/2001/ND-CP dated 20/4/2001 by Government

on the Protection of new plant varieties.

X


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4.3 List of documents slightly supportive to underutilized plantspecies

A National Assembly

1 Ordinance No. 42/2002/PL-UBTVQH10 on self-defence in

foreign commodity importation into Vietnam

X

2 Ordinance No. 22/2004/PL-UBTVQH11 by the StandingCommittee of the National Assembly against subsidization ofimported commodities into Vietnam.

X

3 Law No. 29/2004/QH11 dated 03/12/2004 of the Social

Republic of Vietnam on forestry protection and development.

X

4 Fishery Law No 17/2003/QH11 X

B Government


Minister on supportive policies on aquaculture development.

X


Minister on approval of the aquaculture development

programme to 2010.

X

Agricult

ure

Forest

ry

Aqua-

culture

Health Economi

cs

Other

3 Decision No. 131/2004/QD-TTg dated 16/7/2004 by the PrimeMinister on programme approval of aquatic product protectionand development to the year 2010

X

4 Directive No. 34/ 2004/CT-TTg dated 14/10/2004 by PrimeMinister on coordination strengthening in management,

sovereignty defense and national security of Vietnams sea andcontinental shelf.

X

5 Ordinacne No. 59/2005/ND-CP dated 24/5/2005 byGovernment on the production and business conditions of someaquatic professions.

X


particularly stipulates the implementation of ordinance on self-defence in foreign commodity importation into Vietnam.

X

7 Decision No. 17/2006/QD-TTg dated 20/01/2006, on

continuation of Decision No. 225/1999/QD-TTg dated10/12/1999 on programmes of plant varieties, animal breeds andforest varieties to 2010.

X X x

8 Decision No. 225/1999/QD-TTg dated 10/1999 by the PrimeMinister on approval of 12 programmes for crop varieties,animal breeds and forestry varieties from 2000 to 2005.

X X x

C Ministries

1 Directive No. 27-BYT/CT dated 7/9/1972 on strengthening

Vietnamese traditional medicine development and utilization in

X


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B Government

1 Decree No. 02/CP dated 15/1/1994 by Government on allotting

land to organizations, households and individuals whoconsistently and permanently utilize it for forestry purposes.

X


on allotting and renting land to organizations, households andindividuals who consistently and permanently utilize it for

forestry purposes.

X


on regulation amendment for allotting agricultural land tohouseholds and individuals who stably and permanently utilize

it for agricultural production and amendment for allotting landto households and individuals utilizing it for salt making.

X

4 Decree No. 73/CP dated 25/10/1993 by Government on land

classification and tax on agricultural land utilization

X

5 Decree No. 84-CP dated 8/8/1994 by Government on theimplementation of amended ordinance to households utilizingagricultural land over area limitation.

X

6 Decision No. 182/1999/QD-TTg dated 3/9/1999 by the PrimeMinister on project approval for vegetable, fruit tree and

ornamental plant development from 1999 to 2010.

X

7 Decision No. 120/1999/QD-TTg dated 7/5/1999 by the PrimeMinister on approval of project on cashew nut development to

2010.

X

8 Directive No. 24/2005/CT-TTg dated 28/6/2005 by the PrimeMinister on the implementation of the 5th Resolution by the 9thCentral Communist Party on agricultural and rural

industrialization and modernization.

X

9 Resolution No. 03/2000/NQ-CP dated 2/2/1999 by Governmenton farm economy. x

10 Decision No. 17/2002/ QD-TTg by the Prime Minister ondevelopment orientation of cotton from 2001-2010.

X

B Ministries

1 Decision No. 54/2001 dated 7/4/2003 by the Minister, MARD,on the list of crops that need to announce quality standards.

X

2 Decision No. 69/2004/QD-BNN dated 03/12/2004 by the

Minister, MARD, on the list of rare crops prohibited for export.

X

3 Decision No. 52/2003/QD-BNN dated 2/4/2003 by theMinister, MARD, on testing, field trials, approval, release and

naming of new crop varieties.

X

4 Decision No. 1213/2002/QD-BNN-KHCN dated 8/4/2002 bythe Minister, MARD, on the list of protected crops.

X

5 Decision No 59/2004/QD BNN dated 04/11/2004 by the X


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1 Decision No. 56/2001/QD/BNN-BVTV dated 23/5/2001 by theMinister, MARD, on the list of items under plant quarantine.

X

2 Decision No. 34/2001/QD-BNN-VP dated 30/3/2003 by the

Minister, MARD, regarding regulations on THE businessconditions of plant production and animal husbandry.

x

Subtotal 1 0 0 0 1 0

4.6 List of documents neutral to the underutilized plant species

A Government

1 Decision No. 150/2005/QD-TTg dated 20/06/2005 by the PrimeMinister on planning approval of agricultural, forestry andfishery pattern-shifting nation-wide to 2010 and vision 2020.

X X x

2 Decree No. 74/1993/ND-CP dated 25/10/1993 by Governmenton implementation of the law on agricultural land tax

x


on agricultural and fishery extension

X x x

4 Decree No. 06/2005/NQ-CP dated 06/5/2005 by Government

on regularly governmental in April, 2005.

x

B Ministries

1 Decision No. 30/2002/QD-BNN-TCCB dated 26/4/2002 by theMinister, MARD, on the establishment of the Central

Agricultural Extension Center

X

2 Decision No 118/2003/QD-BNN dated 03/11/2003 by Minister

of MARD on function, mandate and structure of AgriculturalExtension Center

X

3 Joint Circular No. 69/2000/TTLT/BNN-TCTK dated 23/6/2000

by MARD and the General Directorate of Statistics onguidelines on farm economy criteria.

x

4 Circular No. 82/2000/TT-BTC dated 14/8/2000 on financial

guidelines of farm economy development.

x

5 Directive No. 66/2000/CT-BNN-KH dated 14/6/2000 by theMinister, MARD, on planning of rural, agricultural, forestry and

irrigation development from 2001 to 2005.

X X

Subtotal 3 2 2 0 5 2

Total Neutral or inhibiting 14 5 9 0 11 2


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Documents supportive to UPS

Related to crop germplasm/ crop genetic resources conservation

Decree No 15/2004/PL-UBTVQH 11 dated 24/3/2004 on plant varieties defines crop germplasm as

national property, managed exclusively by the State; Section 2 of Art. 1 of Decision No 17/2006/QD-

TTg dated 20/1/2006, a continuation of Decision No. 225/1999/QD-TTg dated 10/12/1999 on

programmes of plant varieties, animal breeds and forest varieties to 2010, mentions that the

Government provides capital and budget for material facility enhancement to institutions that

conserve genetic resources. Besides, Decision No. 253/1998/QD-TTg dated 29/12/1998, on changingthe Tram Chim submerged zone of natural conservation in Dong Thap into the Tram Chim national

park, as well as approval of the Tram Chim construction investment project 1999-2003, indicated the

importance of conservation, development and sustainable utilization of genetic resources, including

underutilized plant genetic resources. MARDs five-year agriculture and rural development plan

(2001-2005) also mentioned the conservation and utilization of diversified genetic resources.

Addition of some valuable underutilized plant species to the list of interested crop varieties

Protection of plant varieties is an incentive to the breeding and development of new varieties.

Consequently, Art. 1 of MARD Ministerial Decision No. 68/2004/QD-BNN dated 24/11/2004,

indicated an additional 10 crop varieties for insertion in the list of protected crops (potato, rose,

chrysanthemum, watermelon, cucumber, cabbage, kohlrabi, grape, cotton and tea) of which, in the

Vietnam context, watermelon, cucumber, cabbage, kohlrabi and grapes are considered to be

underutilized species. This is an advantage for the development of underutilized plant species in the

future. Furthermore, Prime Ministers Instruction No. 210/TTg dated 6/12/1966, on exploitation and

development of medicinal plants and animals and the Inter-Ministerial Circular of the Red Cross

Ministry of Health No. 28/TTLB dated 27/12/1990, on encouragement of the use of Vietnamese

traditional medicine in health care, has made the medicinal plant species, which were hitherto little-

known or used, much more important and led to an increase in the number of underutilized plant

species. Besides, a report on agricultural and rural economic transformation (2001-2004) and

development orientation to 2010 provided by the Quang Ninh peoples committee mentioned the

development and rapid expansion of some underutilized plant species, such as anise and cinnamon,

which are commodities of high economic value.

Policies supportive to product consumption

One of the factors supportive to the development of UPS is that Government policy encourages

farmers to consume their products, and enhance the quality. Thus, Ordinance No. 04PL/CTN dated

4/1/2000 (comprising 8 chapters and 38 articles) on Commodity Quality was issued in order to:


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seeds (including main crops and some underutilized plant species such as mulberry, barley, safe

vegetables and high quality flowers), involving support for food processing operations and providing

investment credit.

Supportive policies on production

Three documents concerning the provinces of Son La and Ha Nam (Decision No. 1190/QD-UBND of

Ha Nam dated 27/7/2005, Decision No. 526/QD-UBND of Ha Nam dated 20/05/2003, and Decision

No. 257/QD-UBND of Son La dated 31/01/2005) are supportive to the production of underutilized

plant species. Besides the main crops, the provinces localize and expand the production of other crops

such as kohlrabi, shallot, garlic, melon, luffah, water spinach, French beans, and pawpaw.and

concurrently undertake initiatives such as investment in field-levelling work, irrigation systems andpost harvest and food processing, as well as preferential interest loans to scale-up production models

assisting in the development of underutilized crop species.

Documents considered to be neutral towards UPS

Tax on underutilized plant species production

Tax on agricultural production limits the development of crops that are not of high economic value tofarmers. Art. 1 of Government Decree No. 73/CP dated 25/10/1993, on the tax classification of

utilization of agricultural land has resulted in areas specializing in crops of high economic value, with

the consequent reduced cultivation of those crops that are considered to be of lower economic return.

Similarly, Art. 2 of Government Decree No. 84/CP dated 8/8/1994, stipulated the implementation of a

tax amendment for farmer households utilizing agricultural land, as did Art. 5 and 10 of Government

Decree No. 163/ND-CP dated 16/11/1999 on forestry land allotment and hire to organizations,households and individuals who consistently utilized the land. This resulted in people being interested

only in crops that yielded high economic returns to maximize the effectiveness of capital usage.

Consequently, the underutilization of certain plant species was further exacerbated by this approach.

Supportive or incentive documents on new, high yielding and high economic value crop varieties

Besides agricultural land tax, other governmental policies, such as the development of farm economy,

and strengthening of agricultural and fishery extension are also constraints to the full development of

underutilized species. The concept of farming economy contained in Government Decree No. 3 dated

2/2/1999, is that of agricultural commodity production, effective utilization of land, capital, techniqueand management experience, movement of agricultural labour to non-agricultural labour, and the

promotion of industrialization in agriculture and rural development. This indicated that underutilized

plant species of low economic value were being replaced by main crops of high international and

national trading value.


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development of vegetable, flower and fruit trees were associated with market demand and intensive

cultivation of gardens specializing in the production of main crops, all of which limited the

development of underutilized plant species.

Policies on land reclamation

The underutilized plant species grow in many regions, especially in the upland, forests and remote

areas. Policies on land allotment for agricultural and forestry purposes partially restricted the

development of underutilized plant species. Section 5 of Article 7 on the allotment of forestry land to

organizations, households and individuals enclosed with Decree No. 02 - CP dated 15/1/1994 by the

Government declared that it allotted land to organizations, households and individuals in combinationwith forestry, agricultural and fishery business. On the other hand, the State rents forestry land to

organizations, households and individuals for agro-forestry and agro-forestry-fishery business

(Circular No 62/2000/TTLT-BNN-TCDC dated 6/6/2002 by MARD and the General Bureau of Land

Administration; Section 3 of Art. 10 of Government Decree No. 163 dated 16/11/1999). As business

targets are associated with economic efficiency, some underutilized plant species will be replaced by

other economically viable crops.

QUESTIONNAIRE TO ESTABLISH SCIENTISTS AND MANAGERS INVOLVEMENTWITH OR UTILIZATION OF UPS

The Task Force of the GRPI project developed a questionnaire on underutilized plant species in

Vietnam (see Annex 2) which was sent to 22 researchers and policy makers (scientists and

managers?) in order to identify their involvement with or utilization of UPS and the importance they

gave to same.

Respondents areas of activity

The largest number of responses (31.8%) came from representatives of public research institutes

involved in crop specialization, followed by national policy planners, non-governmental offices and

social organizations (27.3% and 22.7 % respectively) and public service suppliers (13.6%). Those

representing provincial policy planning, private companies, and provincial unions and communities

accounted for the smallest portion of responses, while institutes engaged in other activities and not

specializing in crops, accounted for only 4.55%.


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Private companies 0

Public services (agricultural extension) 4.55

Local unions and communities 4.55

Non-governmental and social organizations 0

Areas of involvement of organizations/institutes

The organizations/institutes were involved in a variety of activities pertinent to UPS. Those involved

in research (54.55%) constituted the largest portion, followed by those involved in conservation and

rural development (40.91%), then training (36.3%) and, lastly, policy management and

development.(see Table 2, below)

Other related tasks undertaken by the institutes were: transfer of advanced science and technology; the

establishment of typical models of fruit orchards in the VAC ecosystem; policy campaigns;

consultation, planning and support to research and development of crop variety documents; and

production transfer and expansion. The latter tasks accounted for only 18.18%.

Table 2: Organizations/Institutes involvement with crops

Involvement %Education 13.64

Research 54.55

Training 36.36

Conservation 40.91

Management 22.73

Rural development 40.91

Policy/law developing (laws on protection of plant variety, plant variety, and bio-safety...) 27.27

Other* 18.18

Note: * This includes the list of activities indicated in the previous para.

Scope of organizations/institutes

The survey carried out on 22 people indicated that the scope of most of the institutes represented is

nation-wide (95.45%), while that of just a few institutes is local (accounting for 9,091%). Over half ofthe institutes involved have also a broader (international-regional) scope (59%).


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utilizing UPS for other purposes - such as pre-processing at production units; a cooperative project

with Souchamtou University, United Kingdom; management and policy recommendations; and

conservation regulations are quite few (18.18%).

Table 4: Purpose of utilization of UPS

Purpose %

Collection 27.27

Research 27.27

Crop breeding 36.36

Multiplication 31.82

Training 13.64

Marketing 13.64

Need to utilize UPS for

Collection 59.09

Research 59.09

Crop breeding 54.55

Multiplication 45.45Training 18.18

Marketing 9.09

Have accessed and utilized UPS for

Scientists and managers views on the importance/roles of underutilized plant species

The survey on the importance of UPS indicated that most scientists and managers are in agreement

that these species constitute rare genetic resources (86.36%) and are a significant to the developmentof sustainable agriculture. More than a half of the respondents (59.09%) involved in the survey reckon

that UPSs have local economic value. There were not many views (22.73%) expressed with regard to

their value in the national economy and landscape.

Other activities in which UPS are efficacious relate to erosion prevention, land improvement,

conservation and maintenance of vegetative cover and, in some cases, even people survival, breeding

and multiplying materials, valuable medicine for public health, traditional culture, value to the

environment, and especially as a source of energy in the future, as petroleum and coal become moreand more exhausted (accounting for 22.73%).

Table 5: Importance of UPS

Importance of UPS %


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institutions (the Ministry of Natural Resource and Environment, the Vietnam gardeners association

VACVINA, local communities, Hanoi Agricultural University, and MARD) are fairly closely

involved with these plant species (varying from 50% to 63.564%), while the remainder are onlyslightly involved (accounting for 9.091% - 40.1% only).

Table 6: Types of Institutions closely involved with UPS

Institutes %

Crop department 40.91

Plant protection department 27.27

National center for agricultural extension 13.64

Department of animal husbandry 9.091

Food Crops Research Institute 36.36

Fruits and Vegetables Research Institute 40.91

Plant protection Institute 31.82

Center of genetic resources (Vietnam Academy of Agriculture and Science) 90.91

Institute of Materia Medica, Hanoi 86.36

Hanoi Agricultural University 54.55Womens union 9.091

Youth union 0

Vietnam gardeners association VACVINA 50

Vietnamese farmer union 22.73

Ministry of Agricultural and rural development 63.64

Ministry of natural resources and environment 50

Ministry of Health 40.91

Ministry of Science technology and environment 31.82

Vietnam Union of the association of Science and Technology 18.18

Industrial corporation 0

Seed companies 22.73

Local communities 54.55

Cooperatives 22.73

Policies involving the development of underutilized plant species

The survey shows that protection of biodiversity and landrace utilization for hunger eradication and

poverty alleviation are policies that involve the development of UPS. The latter aims account for the

highest percentage (86.36% and 81.82% respectively). In addition, policies concerning the

development of landrace production and trade marks are also involved in the development of these

i (68 18%) O h li h i i d f i d


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Impact of supportive polices for underutilized plant species (such as sale of seed/seedlings at

subsidized prices)

In order to ensure food security for the whole population, the Government has issued supportive

policies on subsidies for some seeds (for example, covering 20-30% of the cost of new and high-

yielding rice and hybrid rice). However, the disadvantage of such policies is their impact on

underutilized plant species. According to 90.92% of managers and scientists, these policies are a

constraint to the species. Only 9,09% believe that these policies are supportive.

Table 8: Impact on UPS of supportive seed policies (seed subsidies/ sale at subsidized prices)

Apparent impact %A Constraint 90.91

Supportive 9.09

Knowledge of related decisions or circulars that are an incentive or a constraint to the underutilized

plant species

Generally, managers and researchers have little knowledge of policies concerning underutilized plant

species. Of the 22 participants in the survey, only 7 (31.82%) were aware of some related polices. Thepolicies they cited included 9 Decisions by the Ministry of Science and Technology, MARD and

Government. These decisions account for only 10% of the total documents issued.

Conservation and utilization of underutilized plant species

In order to conserve and utilize the underutilized plant species, it is necessary to develop and

implement policies on their conservation and utilization. Most of the survey respondents reckon that

fair benefit sharing is the most important (86.46%) issue, followed by 77.27% who think that these

plant species need to be placed in a national gene bank and conserved in-situ. Other policies are also

mentioned, over average: policies supportive to institutes and organizations developing underutilized

plant species (68.18%); policies considering these plant species important to agricultural sustainable

development (63.64%); policies concerning research on their rare and valuable characteristics

(63.64%); policies encouraging community participation in production each local has one product

(54.55%). Leaving aside policies on subsidies for new and high-yielding varieties, and also the

establishment of a Center for underutilized plant species, research and development is not highly

supportive (36.36%). In addition, others (22.73%) are of the view that what is required is:

An annual budget (from the national budget) to maintain, discover, collect, conserve and develop rare

species (the budget is balanced to cater for other crops such as hybrid rice).

Investment in research, surveys, evaluation, conservation and utilization of these plant species.

Policies and regulations that associate the development of these plant species with their trade marks


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Table 9: Action required in order to conserve and utilize UPS

Action %

Supportive policies on the development of underutilized plant species fororganizations and institutes 68.18

Develop and implement policy regarding benefit sharing of gains from the utilizationof UPS 86.36

Consider the underutilized plant species important to agricultural sustainabledevelopment 63.64

Include in the national gene bank 77.27

In-situ conservation 77.27Encourage community participation in production each locality has one product 54.55

Exclude policies on the subsidizing of new and high yielding varieties 36.36

Research rare and valuable characteristics of UPS 63.64

Establish a Center of for research and development of UPS 22.73

Points emerging from responses to the Questionnaire

The main points emerging from the responses are:

1. In general, it was stated that the reason for accessing underutilized plants species (UPS) ismainly that of research and for breeding purposes, with a lower percentage for education,

marketing, and conservation needs.

2. Most of the comments stated that UPS represent a rare genetic resource (86.36%), are acontribution to sustainable agriculture (81.36%) and also to the local economy (59.09%). In

addition, many stated that UPS can be utilized for poverty alleviation (>80.0%).

3. An important Government policy in favor of hybrid rice (meaning that 30-50% of the seedprice is covered by the local government) was considered by 90.92% of the respondents as

inhibiting the promotion of UPS.

4. For conservation and utilization of UPS, the majority of the respondents (86.46%)emphasized the need for equal benefit sharing, and placement in the national gene bank and

in-situ conservation (72.27%); 63.64% of the respondents supported research to identify the

positive features of UPS; while 36.35% favoured limitation and were of the view that policyfavours only the new and high-yielding varieties.

A project workshop was then held at Hanoi Agricultural University on 23 August 2006, at which 15

persons participated (see list of participants, Annex 3). Participants assessed the points emerging from

h h i i d h d h f ll i l i


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plants conserved within the community, the State needs to develop a policy to ensure that

they are conserved in an adequate manner.

e) MARD should have a specific policy on UPS (study, conservation, potential, traditionalknowledge, market, production and utilization - avoiding over-exploitation).

f) A more in-depth study is required, concentrating on those policy documents that are effectivenot only in theory but, above all, in practice.

g) There was a felt need for awareness-raising on UPS, directed at the local people (farmers)related stakeholders, such as government ministries, regional directorates, etc.

h)

There is also a need to strengthen the national park and natural conservation area.

i) It was considered that a policy on benefit-sharing with the community should be developedand applied as soon as possible.

j) It was stated that a small project dealing with underutilized plants species would be veryuseful, in cooperation with GFU.

Reference: General Statistics Office. 2000. Statistical data of Vietnam. Agriculture, forestry and fisheries

(1975-2000). Statistical publishing house.


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CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS

The conclusions reached were as follows:

Institutes need to gain access to and use underutilized plant species germplasm for

the purpose of breeding and multiplication (36.36% and 31.82% respectively), and

access and utilization (54.55 % v 45.45% respectively).

The importance of underutilized plant species as valuable and rare genetic resources

(86.36%) needs to be emphasized, as well as their value in agricultural sustainable

development (81.82%) and in the local economy (59.09%).

The two main research institutes involved in the development of a collection of

plant species (in particular, but not only, UPS) are The Center of Plant Genetic

Resources ( very closely involved with UPS (90.9%), followed by the Institute of

Materia Medica (86.36%). The entities involved with underutilized plant speciesinclude, in addition to research institutes, departments, ministries, unions,

cooperatives and companies.

It is recommended that policies be introduced concerning biodiversity protection

and landrace utilization for hunger eradication and poverty alleviation (86.36% and

81.82%) - all linked to the development of underutilized plant species.

It is felt that existing policies on seed and the sale of certain crops at subsidized

prices are a constraint to the underutilized plant species (90.91%).

In order to conserve and utilize underutilized plant species, it is recommended that

policies be introduced and implemented with regard to fair and equitable benefit

sharing as a result of their utilization (86.46%) that such species be included in the

national gene bank and in-situ conservation (77.27%).

The following recommendations were advanced, with a view to encouraging the

development of underutilized plant species:

that removal of the levy/ tax on agricultural production be considered, especially for

regions where people live mainly by such production Specifically Art 1 of


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Analysis of existing national policies that enable or inhibit the wider use of underutilized plant species for foodand agriculture in Vietnam

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that policies be developed to encourage people in remote areas to conserve the

underutilized plant species, propagandize traditional knowledge and improve

peoples knowledge of the value (medicinal, cosmetic, nutritional, cultural) of suchspecies and of their cultivation techniques.

that supportive policies be developed both public and private research institutes to

conduct research on local underutilized plant species with farmer participation

(regarding their potential utilization, seed production and market, and other).

that local underutilized plant species be collected and identified and that an

inventory be created for the listing of these species. The species are divided into 2groups:

Group 1 is of scientific value and needs to be included in the genetic

esource list ofex-situ orin-situ conservation for breeding materials; and

Group 2 is of economic value and requires multiplication, as well as

intensive cultivation techniques to increase yield, quality and economic

efficiency and to develop trade marks or geographical indications.

that policies be developed with regard to an equitable sharing of benefits arising

from the use of underutilized plant species, with the communities concerned.


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A l i f i ti ti l li i th t bl i hibit th id f d tili d l t i f f d


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ANNEXES

ANNEX I: Study Work Plan (Oct. 2005 - Sept. 2006)

ANNEX II Questionnaire on Underutilized Plant Species

ANNEX III Seminar on underutilized plants species,

Hanoi Agricultural University, 23 August, 2006

List of Participants



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ANNEX 1

Project Study Work Plan (October 2005 - September 2006)

Oct.-Dec.

2005

Jan.-Mar

.2006

Apr-

June2006

Jul-Sept.

2006

I Research Activities

1 Section 1.01 Identification of existing nationalpolicies in the areas of agricultural research, rural and

national development, health and nutrition, ruralinvestment and microfinance, education, marketing,export, biodiversity conservation and the environment,dealt with in terms of biodiversity.

X X

2 Section 1.02 Collection of relevant policy andlegal documents in the above-mentioned areas

X X X

3 Review of policy documents related to underutilizedspecies and evaluating the policies regarding theirimpact on same.

X X X

4 Screening of identified policies for explicit referencesto underutilized species

X X

5 Identifying whether these policies support or inhibit thebroader use of underutilized plant species.

X

6 Interviews with policy makers and practitioners X

7 Section 1.03 Small workshop on recommend-ations for the most relevant policies

X

II Institutional activities

8 Presenting the results of the project to the Task ForceMeeting X X

9 Meeting of project participants (5 meetings) X X X X

10 Planning of meetings and reviewing reports X X

11 Preparing interim and final technical/financial reports X x



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y g p p pand agriculture in Vietnam

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and agriculture in Vietnam

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ANNEX 2

Questionnaire* on Underutilized Plant Species

Please, answer the questions in the following questionnaire. If you do so by computer,

please insert new lines, if necessary. Or if you do so on paper, please use additional sheets

as needed.

Thank you very much for your cooperation and help.

Date of interview:

Name of interviewer:

1. Information of your agency

1.1. Name of agency:

1.2. Name and position of person interviewed:

1.3. Address

Email:

Telephone:

Fax:

1.4 Your agencys field of work

Plant specific Non plant specific

National policy-maker

Local policy-maker

Public research institute

Privite sector (company)

Extension service

Associaltion, community

NGO

1.5. Your agencys involvement with plants

1 Education Research Training Conservation

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Issues related to the underutilized plant species (please read the definition

provided by GFU, attached)

1.8. Your opinion on Underutilized Plant Species:

High value to national economy

high value to some local Valuable gene Good for landscape Significance for sustainable agriculture Other (Clearly note)

1.9. Among the agencies listed below, which of them are closely related to

underutilized plant species?

crop production dept Plant protection dept National extension

center Animal dept Food and foodstuffresearch institute

Horticulture Plant protection institute Plant gene centre(VAAS)

Medical material institute

Hanoi AgriculturalUniversity

WomenUnion

Youth union

Association ofgardeners/VACVINA

Ministry ofAgriculture and Ruural

development

Ministry of Natural resourceand environmentMinistry of HealthMinistry of Science and

Technology

Union of Scientific andtechnology association

Industrial group Seed company

Community Cooperative farm

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Do you know of any specific policy documents?

- Number .. issued by..- Number .. issued by..

- Number .. issued by..

How to conserve and utilize underutilized plant species

Create a Policy supporting those agencies that are developing available underutilizedplant species

Develop and apply a benefit-sharing policy when using underutilized plant species Consider underutilized plant species as an important factor in developing sustainableagriculture

Place underutilized plant species in the national gene bank Community conservation Encourage the local people/farmers to participate in One Product One Community(An initiative aimed at encouraging the local stakeholders in any village to join together and develop one

product specifically for themselves).

Limit or discontinue support to high-yielding varieties, so as to further the utilization ofUPS

Study and list important features of underutilized plant species Set up a research center for underutilized plant species Others

(Thank you very much)

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